The Difference Between CBD and Delta 8 THC

The Difference Between CBD and Delta 8 THC

Cannabinoids are taking the health and wellness industry by storm. Recreational cannabis users love it for the relaxing and psychotropic feeling it generates. But the medical world is also getting into cannabis with research increasingly showing that it carries immense therapeutic benefits.

Most people are familiar with CBD and THC, but there is a new cannabinoid hitting the airwaves, Delta 8 THC. If you like the high THC, but you can’t use it because it is illegal, you can try this new product.

Get yourself a delta 8 cart and enjoy vaping your THC and get the benefits of CBD without worrying about the law. But what is Delta 8 THC? Is it the same as the usual THC, and how does it differ from CBD? Let’s take a look.

Psychoactive Effect

Delta-8 THC comes from the oxidation of Delta-9 THC. So, this product is similar in various ways to your regular THC. But can Delta-8 THC make you high? Of course, yes. But the high of Delta-8 THC is not as strong as that of Delta-9 THC, and it does not cause paranoia or the other effects associated with Delta-9 THC.

CBD, however, is not psychoactive and will not make you high. But both compounds share therapeutic properties such as antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects.

Chemical Pathway And Therapeutic Effects

CBD and Delta-8 THC share a lot in common with regard to their therapeutic effects. One might think that these two compounds work in similar ways, but that is not entirely true.

Studies show that while CBD and Delta-8 THC may have antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects, their actions are mediated through different pathways. CBD achieves its effects by activating the 5-HT1A receptors while Delta-8 THC works through the CB1 receptors.

 

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When you walk into a cannabis dispensary and ask for cannabis products for pain, you will get a CBD product. CBD has been the flagship hemp product because it is legal, which makes it legal to research. But research on Delta-8 THC is only starting to emerge. Things changed after the recent clarification of its legality, and now there is strong evidence for its benefits.

Research shows that Delta-8 THC is more effective than CBD in managing pain. Preliminary research shows that you need just 1% of Delta-8 THC to achieve the same effects as 5% of CBD.

Concentrations

Both CBD and Delta 8 THC come from the same plant, hemp. Nonetheless, these two cannabinoids are very different in their concentrations. CBD is the abundant cannabinoid in hemp, followed by Delta 9 THC. Delta 8 THC is a minor cannabinoid with concentrations of less than 0.1% in the plant.

The concentration of Delta 8 THC is so low that extracting the compound to get usable levels requires detailed refinement. CBD, because of its abundance, is easier to extract. In fact, if you take raw hemp and refine it, you will end up with a product that is primarily composed of CBD. Make sure to check the CBD dosage calculator before taking it.

Uses

CBD has gained popularity for its medicinal benefits, and since it is not psychoactive, it offers little recreational value. But CBD can help one relax, and some people may take it when they want just to chill and watch TV. The majority of users, though, use it to manage specific health conditions.

Unlike CBD, Delta 8 THC has widespread use both medicinally and recreationally. Delta-8 THC exhibits a psychoactive feeling that causes a high. It offers a smooth and clear high that does not leave the user exhausted. With its low psychoactive intensity and powerful health benefits, Delta 8 THC might be more beneficial in treating conditions such as insomnia, depression, nausea, and loss of appetite.

Regulation

In the U.S., any products derived from marijuana plants are illegal. CBD is legal under federal law and in most states because it is sourced from hemp plants. But Delta 8 THC has a complicated legal status. First, the law outrightly bans Delta-9 THC, but this does not mean its chemical derivative Delta-8 THC is also illegal.

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The fact that Cannabis sativa is illegal in the United States, any product derived from the plant is illegal under and placed under controlled substances. So, the legality of Delta-8 depends on its source. If you get yours from Cannabis sativa, then it is definitely illegal. To avoid any legal problems, ensure that your product comes from hemp.

The 2018 Farm Bill makes clarifications on the ambiguity of the legal status of hemp and marijuana products. Under the law, all cannabinoids that come from hemp are legal, given that the level of Delta-9-THC is below 0.3%. But even after this bill came into law, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)is still not clear with the status of Delta-8 THC.

Conclusion

Now that you understand the differences between CBD and Delta-8 THC, you can make a better decision on which product to use. As researchers delve more into Delta-8 THC, they will learn more about its benefits, side effects, and potential health applications.

For now, users can experiment with these products with the assurance that they are safe. But just because Delta-8 THC is legal and safe does not mean it may not get you into trouble. You stand a high chance of failing a drug test if you take Delta-8 THC.